Residents of Kitui South, particularly in Mutomo, are on high alert after the Ministry of Interior reported the loss of nine birth certificate booklets at the Mutomo Registration Office. The missing booklets, each containing 100 pages, bear serial numbers 1502001 to 1502900, and have since been declared invalid by the Ministry.
Speaking exclusively to Channel 15 News, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Interior confirmed that the certificates linked to the lost booklets have been officially cancelled. “The serial numbers associated with these certificates have been flagged in the system, and anyone attempting to use them will be denied service,” the spokesperson revealed.
The disappearance has sparked concern in Kitui South Sub-County and the wider Lower Eastern Region, where many residents depend on the Mutomo office for critical civil registration services. Local families, especially those seeking birth certificates for school enrollment, healthcare access, or national identity card applications, are now being urged to remain vigilant.
The Ministry is working closely with local authorities to investigate the loss and ensure that no fraudulent use of the documents occurs. “We are taking immediate steps to track down how these booklets went missing, and we urge the public to report any suspicious activity involving the listed serial numbers,” the Ministry spokesperson added.
As residents await further updates, leaders from Kitui South have called for heightened security measures at registration offices, especially in rural areas. They emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in handling such vital records, given the critical role birth certificates play in daily life.
In the meantime, residents who had applied for birth certificates at the Mutomo office are being advised to check with the local registration office on how to reapply for valid certificates.
This incident serves as a wake-up call on the need for improved safeguarding of official documents to prevent identity theft and service disruptions, particularly in underserved regions like Kitui South.
